Roof ridge ventilator



June 20, 1967 1.. SMITH ETAL 3,326,113

ROOF RIDGE VENTILATOR Filed Sept. 28, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 55 LESTER L gW r S 39 3 8 69 FRANK EIRANDALL BY M, 9m, 64am, (5W Wye.

June 20, 1967 SMITH ETAL 3,326,113

ROOF RIDGE VENTILATOR Filed Sept. 28, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS LESTER L. SMITH FRAMK E. RANDALL United States Patent assignor to said Smith Filed Sept. 28, 1964, Ser. No. 399,618 Claims. (Cl. 9842) This invention relates to roof ridge ventilators, and more particularly to ventilators which extend longitudinally of the exterior of the ridge of a building roof to provide for movement of air through the space immediately below the roof.

One of the general objects of the invention is to provide a roof ridge ventilator structure which is readily fabricated in production and which is both easily installed and substantially rugged.

As another object our invention comprehends the provision of a roof ridge ventilator of the type to which reference has been made and which is fabricated in parts and sections to be assembled when installed to provide a weather protective ventilating structure.

Our invention further has within its purview the provision of a roof ridge ventilator wherein internal support is provided at positions spaced along the length thereof.

This invention has for another object the provision of a roof ridge ventilator incorporating supports securable to roof rafters, and which carry cover portions with wh ch other portions are assemblable to complete an effectlve ventilating and weather protective structure.

More specifically, this invention contemplates the provision of a roof ridge ventilator including generally T- shaped supports, cover portions and flashing parts which fit together to compose a unitary structure which is assembled at the time of installation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of an exemplary building having applied thereto a roof ridge ventilator which is constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of this invention, which view has parts broken away to illustrate details of the structure;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view showing parts of the roof ridge ventilator which are assembled at the time of installation and application to the roof of a building; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view drawn to a larger scale than FIGS. 1 and 2 and which shows details of the roof ridge ventilator structure and of its application to a building having a roof ridge.

In the exemplary embodiment of this invention which is disclosed in the accompanying drawings, a roof ridge ventilator is shown in its application to a building 12 which includes an end wall 13, a side wall 14, and a roof 15 which includes side portions 16 and 17 in angular relationship to one another and defining a ridge. The roof structure includes supporting rafters 18 which extend outwardly from the ridge to the side walls of the building and support sheathing boards 19 which are secured thereto. The sheathing boards are covered by shingles 20 for weather protection. Also, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a slot 22 is provided between the sheathing and shingles on opposite sides of the roof ridge for the passage of ventilating air. This slot is covered, and afforded weather protection by the roof ridge ventilator 10, as will be more fully described.

Having general reference to the roof ridge ventilator it) of this invention, it embodies a plurality of substantially T-shaped and generally planar support pieces 23 which are secured in spaced relationship to rafters 18 of selected spacing along the ridge of the roof upon which the venti- 3,325,113 Patented June 20, 1967 lator is to be installed. Each such support piece has a top cross portion 24 and a stem portion 25. When installed on a roof, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, the stem portions 25 of the support pieces extend downwardly through the slot 22 in the roof ridge and are secured to rafters by fastening means, such as nails 26, while opposite sides of the top cross portion 24 of the support pieces project over portions of the roof on opposite sides of the slot 22. As installed, the support pieces 23 form a row along the roof ridge with the general planes of the pieces disposed laterally of the ridge.

Top cover pieces 27 of the ventilator 1t) fit over and extend between the top cross portions 24 of a plurality of the support pieces 23 so as to be supported by the support pieces. On a roof which is longer than the top cover pieces, those pieces are butted together, desirably at a support piece, so that the entire ventilator extends the full length of the roof ridge. To cover and provide weather protection at the positions of the butt joints between successive top cover pieces, an outer cap 28 fits over end portions of the adjacent cover pieces and extends for a distance therealong. To complete the ventilator enclosure and provide additional weather protection adjacent the surfaces of the roof shingles, flashing pieces 29 are utilized. These flashing pieces have inner flange portions which extend upwardly along upper side surface portions of the stem portions of the support pieces. In addition, these flashing pieces have side portions 32 which extend outwardly from the side surfaces of the stem portions of the support pieces adjacent the upper surfaces of the shingles 20 and in spaced relationship to the top cross portions of the support pieces to positions beyond opposite sides of the top cross portions of the support pieces; said flashing pieces being coextensive with the ventilator longitudinally of the roof.

In the disclosed ventilator, the top cover pieces 27 are made integrally of formed sheet material, such as sheet metal or plastic, and have top portions 33 and 34 in obtuse angular relationship to one another, which top portions, in the assembly, fit against top edge surfaces 35 and 36 of the support pieces 23. In the form disclosed, outer side walls 37 and 38 of the top cover pieces are integrally formed with and extend downwardly from the outer edges of the top portions 33 and 34. In the assembly, these outer side walls 37 and 38 fit against outer side edges 39 and 40 of the top cross portions of the relatively T- shaped support pieces. Integrally formed with and extending inwardly from the bottoms of the outer side walls 37 and 38 are panel portions 42 and 43 which are in spaced relationship to the top portions 33 and 34 and fit along the bottom edges of the top cross portions 24 to positions adjacent opposite side surfaces of the stem portions 25 of the support pieces 23. As indicated in FIG. 3, the panel portions 42 and 43 have laterally extending rows of vent openings 44 therein, which vent openings are partially covered internally of the ventilator by louvres 45 which extend upwardly and outwardly of the panel portions for providing weather protection. Desirably, the vent openings of each row are relatively short, and such laterally disposed rows thereof are repeated at closely spaced intervals longitudinally of the ventilator to provide for adequate flow of ventilating air therethrough. In the disclosed and preferred embodiment of this invention, integrally formed flanges are provided on the relatively T-shaped support pieces, which flanges project in sub stantially right angular relationship of the general planes of the support pieces. That is, flanges 46 and 47 extend along the top edge surfaces 35 and 36 respectively, flanges 48 and 49 extend along outer end surfaces of the top cross portions of the support pieces and flanges 50 and 52 extend along the bottom surfaces of the top cross portions of the support pieces and inwardly toward opposite sides of the stern portions 25. Also, flanges 53 and 54 extend along opposite sides of the stem portions of the supports. These flanges not only stiffen the structure of the support pieces, but serve also to provide adequate support for the other ventilator pieces which are mounted thereagainst. Desirably, the bottom surfaces of the top cross portion and flanges 50 and 52 are at a slight incline with the horizontal to assure drainage of entrapped moisture through the outermost vent openings 44.

Adjacent opposite sides of the top part of the stem portion of each support piece, recesses 55 and 56 are provided which extend into the opposite sides of the top cross portion. Along the inner edges of the panel portions 42 and 43 of the top cover pieces,. angularly disposed flanges 57 and 58 are integrally formed on the panel portions, which flanges extend into the recesses 55 and 56 respectively to form catches which hold the cover pieces in place on the support pieces. Additional flange portions 59 and 60 extend angularly from the flanges 57 and 58 and have ends which engage the top ends of the flanges 53 and 54 on the stem portions of the support pieces. Having the flanges 57 and 58 engage the inner edges of flanges t) and 52 respectively on the bottoms of the top cross portions of the support pieces and having the ends of the flanges 59 and 60 engage the top ends of the flanges 53 and 54 on the stem portions of the support pieces quite securely locks the top cover pieces in place relative to the support pieces. Additionally, the flange portions 30 on the flashing pieces 29 extend into the recesses 55 and 56 respectively and have return bent portions 62 and 63 thereon which engage and overlap flange portions 59 and 60 and flanges 57 and 58 to afford weathertight joints and to hold the flashing pieces in place in the assembled relationship of the parts.

The side portions 32 and 33 of the flashing pieces 29 desirably have integral angularly disposed surface portions 64 which slope downwardly toward the outside of the flashing pieces to add longitudinal stiffness to the structure and which are adjoined by substantially flat marginal portions 65 which rest against the shingle surfaces of the roof and provide a convenient nailing strip for the accommodations of fastening means, such as nails 66 at spaced positions longitudinal of the flat portion to secure that portion to the roof surface. Outwardly of the flat marginal portions 65, in the disclosed structure, are integrally formed and longitudinally extending beads 67 provided in the flashing pieces for further longitudinal stiffening of the structure.

At the outer edges of the flashing pieces, baflles 68 extend upwardly to a level above that of the panel portions of the top piece to afford added protection from driven rain and snow getting into the ventilator and also to improve the ventilating action of the ventilator by deflecting air upwardly adjacent the outer edges of the panel portions to create low pressure regions beneath and at the outer edges of the panel portions. These baffles 68 may either be integral with the flashing pieces as shown in the disclosed structure or formed as separate angle pieces which are suitably anchored to be held in position at the outer edges of the flashing pieces. Upper marginal portions of the baflles 68 slope upwardly and outwardly to improve the action of the bafiies. Also, weep holes 70 are provided in the baflies at positions spaced longitudinally thereof to provide for the escape of water which may accumulate on the flashing pieces.

The outer caps 28 which are utilized to cover butt joints between adjacent top cover pieces 27 of the ventilater are of a structure similar to that of the top cover pieces, but are made sufficiently larger than the top cover pieces to fit thereover in the assembled relationship of the parts. That is, the top caps have top portions 72 and '73 adjoined by outer side walls 74 and 75, which outer side walls, in turn, are joined by inwardly extending and opposed panel portions 76 and 77 in spaced and opposed relationship to the top portions 72 and 73. Also, flanges 78 and 79 are provided along the inner edges of the panels 76 and 77, which flanges extend into the recesses 55 and 56 of the support pieces to aid in holding and locating the outer caps in place in the assembled structure.

From the foregoing description, and by reference to the accompanying drawings, it may be readily understood that we have provided a roof ridge ventilator composed of a plurality of separate and readily fabricated parts including relatively T-shaped support pieces which are secured to roof rafters at longitudinally spaced positions to afford relatively rigid and rugged internal support for the ventilator structure, as well as top cover pieces which are assembled on the support pieces at the time of installation and which fit over the support pieces in abutted relationship longitudinally of the roof, with the butt joints between top cover pieces covered by outer caps 28. The sheltered panel portions of the top cover pieces include vent openings for the flow of air through the ventilator. Also, flashing pieces are assembled with respect to the aforementioned parts of the ventilator structure at the time of installation and have parts which mount in overlapping relationship to the top cover portions to insure weather protection, and which flashing pieces overlie adjacent shingles to prevent leakage between the roof and the ventilator.

It is understood that the foregoing description is merely illustrative of a preferred embodiment of the invention and that the scope of the invention therefore is not to be limited thereto but is to be determined by the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A roof ridge ventilator comprising, in combination, a plurality of relatively T-shaped and generally planar support pieces adapted to be mounted in a row with the planes of the pieces disposed laterally of the row, said relatively T-shaped support pieces being fabricated from sheet material with integral flanged edges, each having a top cross portion and a stern portion, said top cross portions of the relatively T-shaped support pieces each having top surface portions in angular relationship to one another on opposite sides of a central plane and bottom surface portions on opposite sides of the stem portion and in spaced and opposed relationship to the top surface portions, said bottom surfaces of the support pieces having recesses therein at opposite sides of said stem portion, said stem portions of each of the support pieces having side surfaces extending downwardly from said bottom surface portions and in spaced and opposed relationship to one another, an integrally formed top cover piece of sheet material of a length to engage and extend between a plurality of said top cross portions of the support pieces and having top and panel portions disposed to engage said top and bottom surface portions respectively of the support pieces and also gripping flange means along the panel portions for engagement in said recesses of the support pieces, flashing pieces having portions disposed in angular relationship to one another, one of said portions of each of the flashing pieces engaging a side surface of the stem portion of each support piece and extending into said recesses of the support pieces, and the other portion of each flashing piece extending away from the stem portion of each support piece in spaced and opposed relationship to a panel portion of the top cover piece, and said panel portions of the top cover piece having openings therein for the flow of air.

2. A roof ridge ventilator as defined in claim 1, and wherein said one portion of each flashing piece has a margin overlapping a margin of one panel portion of the top cover piece at a position aligned with said recesses in the support pieces.

3. A roof ridge ventilator adapted to fabrication in separate pieces for assembly at the time of installation and comprising, in combination, relatively T-shaped and generally planar support pieces fabricated from sheet material with integral flanged edges and having top cross portions and stem portions, said top cross portions having bottom surfaces on opposite sides of the stem portions and top surface portions in spaced and opposed relationship to said bottom surfaces, said bottom surfaces of the cross portions having generally rectangular recesses therein adjacent the stern portions, said stem portion having side surfaces in spaced and opposed relationship to one another and extending downwardly from the recesses in the bottom surfaces of the top cross portions, an integrally formed top cover piece having top and panel portions shaped to fit over and around said top cross portions of the support pieces in contact with said top surface portions and said bottom surfaces and having flange means thereon for engagement in said recesses, and flashing pieces on opposite sides of said stem portions and extending outwardly therefrom, said flashing pieces having portions extending along and engaging said side surfaces of the stem from positions adjacent said bottom surfaces of the cross portions to positions within said recesses, and said panel portions of the top cover piece having openings therein for the flow of air.

4. A roof ridge ventilator as defined in claim 3, and wherein said panel portions of the top cover piece and said flashing pieces having marginal portions which overlap one another in said recesses.

5. A ventilator adapted to extend along and be secured to the ridge of the roof of a building, which roof is supported by rafters spaced longitudinally of the roof ridge, and which ventilator comprises relatively T-shaped and generally planar support pieces fabricated from sheet material with integral flanged edges and having cross portions at the top and stem portions extending downwardly from the mid-region of the cross portions, said stem portions being adapted to be secured to side surfaces of the roof rafters in spaced relationship to one another longitudinally of the roof ridge and with their general planes disposed laterally of the roof ridge and with said cross portions spaced above the roof, an integrally formed top cover piece embracing and gripping laterally and vertically spaced exterior flanged edge surfaces of said cross portions of a plurality of said support pieces and including panel portions on opposite sides of the stem portions, said panel portions having air flow passages therein, and separate flashing pieces adapted to be secured to the roof on opposite sides of said stem portions and having flanges which extend upwardly along opposed flange edges of the stern portions to the cross portions at both the top and the bottom thereof and portions which extend outwardly from the stern portions.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,814,979 12/1957 Johnson 9842 2,961,940 11/1960 Kump.

3,073,235 1/1963 Smith et al.

3,174,423 3/ 1965 Rigerink et al. 9842 3,185,070 5/1965 Smith 9842 3,213,776 10/1965 Adams 98-42 3,241,474 3/1966 Rousey et a1. 9842 ROBERT A. OLEARY, Primary Examiner.

MEYER PERLIN, Examiner.

W. E. WAYNER, Assistant Examiner. 

5. A VENTILATOR ADAPTED TO EXTEND ALONG AND BE SECURED TO THE RIDGE OF THE ROOF OF A BUILDING, WHICH ROOF IS SUPPORTED BY RAFTERS SPACED LONGITUDINALLY OF THE ROOF RIDGE, AND WHICH VENTILATOR COMPRISES RELATIVELY T-SHAPED AND GENERALLY PLANAR SUPPORT PIECES FABRICATED FROM SHEET MATERIAL WITH INTEGRAL FLANGED EDGES AND HAVING CROSS PORTIONS AT THE TOP AND STEM PORTIONS EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY FROM THE MID-REGION OF THE CROSS PORTIONS, SAID STEM PORTIONS BEING ADAPTED TO BE SECURED TO SIDE SURFACES OF THE ROOF RAFTERS IN SPACED RELATIONSHIP TO ONE ANOTHER LONGITUDINALLY OF THE ROOF RIDGE AND WITH THEIR GENERAL PLANES DISPOSED LATERALLY OF THE ROOF RIDGE AND WITH SAID CROSS PORTIONS SPACED ABOVE THE ROOF, AN INTEGRALLY FORMED TOP COVER PIECE EMBRACING AND GRIPPING LATERALLY AND VERTICALLY SPACED EXTERIOR FLANGED EDGE SURFACES OF SAID CROSS PORTIONS OF A PLURALITY OF SAID SUPPORT PIECES AND INCLUDING PANEL PORTIONS ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE STEM PORTIONS, SAID PANEL PORTIONS HAVING AIR FLOW PASSAGES THEREIN, AND SEPARATE FLASHING PIECES ADAPTED TO BE SECURED TO THE ROOF ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID STEM PORTIONS AND HAVING FLANGES WHICH EXTEND UPWARDLY ALONG OPPOSED FLANGE EDGES OF THE STEM PORTIONS TO THE CROSS PORTIONS AT BOTH THE TOP AND THE BOTTOM THEREOF AND PORTIONS WHICH EXTEND OUTWARDLY FROM THE STEM PORTIONS. 